Hydroxycinnamic acid‐spermidine amides from Tetragonisca angustula honey as anti‐Neospora caninum: In vitro and in silico studies

Tetragonisca angustula honey was fractioned in a SiO2 column to furnish three fractions (A–C) in which four hydroxycinnamic acid‐Spermidine amides (HCAAs), known as N′, N″, N‴—tris‐p‐coumaroyl spermidine, N′, N″—dicaffeoyl, N‴—coumaroyl spermidine, N′, N″, N‴—tris‐caffeoyl spermidine and N′, N″—dicaffeoyl and N‴—feruloyl spermidine were identified in the fractions B and C by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A primary culture model previously infected with Neospora caninum (72 h) was used to evaluate the honey fractions (A–C) for two‐time intervals: 24 and 72 h. Parasitic reduction ranged from 38% on fraction C (12.5 µg/ml), after 24 h, to 54% and 41% with fractions B and C (25 µg/ml) after 72 h of treatment, respectively. Additionally, HCAAs did not show any cell toxicity for 24 and 72 h. For infected cultures (72 h), the active fractions B (12.5 µg/ml) and C (25 µg/ml) decreased their NO content. In silico studies suggest that HCAAs may affect the parasite's redox pathway and improve the oxidative effect of NO released from infected cells. Here, we presented for the first time, that HCAAs from T. angustula honey have the potential to inhibit the growth of N. caninum protozoa. Tetragonisca angustula honey contain hydroxicinnamic acid – spermidine amides. Hydroxycinnamic acid‐Spermidine amides inhibited the TcTR and PfGR enzymes of the Neospora caninum's redox pathway. The HCAAs reduced the amount of N. caninum tachyzoites in glial cells by up to 54%.